Did anyone else do a summer camping trip for 4th of July? Marshmallows, hot dogs, fireworks, your dog getting sprayed in the face by a skunk. (Maybe that was just my dog.)
Every time I go camping it’s a balancing act—packing just enough to survive for 24-48 hours away from running water, electricity, or Wi-Fi. Pack too much, and you end up lugging it around and cursing yourself. Pack too little, and you’re shivering in a tent while your husband snores in his Mount Everest-rated sleeping bag. (Maybe that was just my husband.)
There’s a phrase in the memoir I’m working on that’s become both a thesis and a throughline for the story: “If you pack it, you have to carry it.”
I probably picked it up during my archaeology fieldwork days, but this phrase has been with me for so long that it feels like my own words now.
You could take this phrase in many different directions—and I have, depending on the context of what’s going on in my life. Maybe it’s about unburdening yourself so you can move forward more easily. Maybe it’s about remembering the most important things you want with you while traveling. Maybe it’s reevaluating if you’re prepared to carry the heavy load as planned.
If you pack it, you have to carry it.
When you find a quiet moment this week, I hope you’ll recite this phrase to yourself. Mentally take stock of what you’re currently carrying. Think about how it might feel to lighten your load, pack only what matters most, or take on more to help someone else.
I hope hello, heart brightens your day and lightens your load. If it does, hit subscribe or share it with someone who might want to read this today.
🔥From my campfire to yours, C.J.
If you pack it, you have to carry it. Brilliant!
One of my favorites so far!